Make an old oak headboard new again!!! Headboard makeover with caning and paint….

This one from Ballard’s was my dream; but way out of my budget, so I decided to use it as inspiration instead and pretty up the one I already had. After all, it was solid wood and has a ton of potential!!

Oak, 80’s. UGH.But it is solid wood. It has that going for it.

I purchased chair caning from Van Dyke’s Restorers and I already had an architectural piece from an old dresser.

I first added my dresser piece ( sorry, no pics… my bad.) to the top. Then I primed and painted the whole thing white.

I then cut the caning to size.I spray painted it with white primer to make it easier to paint later.

Once it was dry, I stapled it onto my headboard. Use A LOT of staples. Believe me. I unloaded my gun into it.

later, you’ll paint right over them and you can’t even tell they are there.

‘

I then cut molding to frame around the rough edges and hold it in place. I mitered them so the ends match up and it makes a frame.

Where it didn’t match exactly, I just wood filled it white white wood filler. After it was dry,then I painted the whole thing again.

Here’s where I cried.

I guess when caning gets wet it relaxes and buckles.Which I did NOT know. When I pulled it in that night, I noticed it was all wavy and bumpy. After a full day of work on the darn thing, the tears flowed with a few expletives.

But then the sun came out the next day and when it had dried overnight, the caning tightened up again and it was flat. I think my saving grace was all of the staples.Use lots of staples.

The total cost was $23.00 for the caning with shipping. I already had the other supplies on hand.

I have a chair in my bedroom that the chicken wire has broken (probably from MY behind!) and want to put caning in it, honey. Is it substantial enough for a chair? I mean the kind you’re buying. Or is that just regular caning and can take a lot of use?xoxo,Connie

This is an amazing makeover! You worked miricles on that thing.I recained a chair for the first time a few weeks ago. I did a horrible job. But I knew I was going to paint and distress the chair,and all in all it turned out ok. I have one more to go. I’m not scared anymore though. I’ll never over look another piece where the cain is damaged. Again… your headboard is soooo cute!Kelly

OMG, Jen you are an effing GENIUS!!!! Of course, I knew that already. But, WOW! And, the best part, thanks to you, after how many years? I finally know what to do with my bed!!!! When I finally do it I will definitely tell the whole world it’s because of you and your genius talented self.XO,~Angela

You really inspire me with all of your thirftiness and your clever ideas. This has made me want to get back to fix up those things I have been threatening to do but haven’t. I too have a room I don’t reallylike anyone to see.

I want to live in your mind…or at least visit just a little. How on earth do you come up with these great ideas? If you hadn’t included all the instructions, I would never have guessed that this was not an original piece. Fab job!Debbie

THIS IS AWESOME! I can’t not believe all the great things that people in the wonderful world of blog can do! We had water damage and excessive mold in my daughters room, so we had to strip it to the studs and start over once the leak was fixed. With my budget, I bought that Ballard’s Design headboard, but I will tell you…I LIKE YOURS BETTER! It is so great and I think the fact that you MADE it makes it that much more wonderful! It looks like a professional! I feel inadequate in blogland…I have an eye for beautiful things, but not so much any talent! I am so inspired here to get my act together! Come check out my daughter’s room at http://threepixielane.blogspot.com/2010/07/swedish-intent.html. Thank you for sharing!

Stopping by from the Met Monday party!! How creative!! I didn’t realize you could buy the caning like that, but of course there isn’t much you can’t get on the internet these days!! This turned out just awesome and on a budget! I love it!

I am SO impressed! I wonder if oil based paint would have not caused the caning to buckle. Latex paint has water in it, so I can see how that could happen. Anyway, glad it dried and shrank because it looks absolutely AMAZING!!! You did good! Love your site!

I am revisiting this because I love it so much… how did you measure for this… on the site it says sold by the inch… is that square inches? I want to order some to recover the back of a furniture piece.Thanks for the info in advance!Michellemichelle@vintagejunky.com

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